Chicago – Twenty-four world premiere plays and musicals seen first by Chicago audiences were among those receiving nominations by the Jeff Awards, announced today. A total of 178 nominations were made in 31 categories that honor Chicago Equity theatrical productions that opened between August 1, 2017 and July 31, 2018.
During the 2017-18 season, Jeff Awards judges attended opening nights of 141 Equity productions offered by 43 producing organizations and from these openings, 111 productions were “Jeff Recommended” and eligible for award nominations.
This season, the Goodman Theatre led the theatre scoreboard with 15 nominations, followed by Court Theatre with 13, Porchlight Music Theatre with 12, Marriott Theatre with 11, and 10 each for Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Paramount Theatre and Victory Gardens Theatre.
In the coveted Ensemble category, the Jeff Awards has now created two awards: one for Ensemble-Play and one for Ensemble-Musical or Revue. This year, five musical productions were nominated in their respective category, and eight plays were nominated in the
Ensemble-Play category. Actors’ Equity Association supports the Equity Jeff Awards by sponsoring these Ensemble awards. Additionally, for the first time, the Jeff Awards has separated out the Director-Play and Director-Musical categories into their respective Large and Midsize divisions.
The 50th Annual Equity Jeff Awards honoring excellence in professional theatre produced within the greater Chicago area will be held on Monday, October 22nd, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace.
This year’s ceremony celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Jeff Awards with special appearances and activities. Performances featuring cast members from nominated musicals and revues will also highlight the October 22nd ceremony. Pre-show appetizers and a cash bar will be offered from 6:00 to 7:30 PM, followed by the awards ceremony, directed by Michael Weber. A lavish buffet reception will immediately follow the ceremony.
Advance purchase tickets, which include the ceremony and pre- and post-show parties, are $85 ($65 for members of Actors’ Equity Association, United Scenic Artists, Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, Stage Managers’ Association, IATSE, The Dramatists Guild of America, and the American Federation of Musicians). Tickets at the door, if available, will be an additional $10 per ticket. The evening is black tie optional, and the public is invited to attend. To purchase tickets, visit the Jeff Awards website at www.jeffawards.org. For more information, contact Jeff Awards Equity Ceremony Producer Merril Prager at producer@jeffawards.org.
The Jeff Awards has been honoring outstanding theatre artists annually since it was established in 1968. With up to 55 members representing a wide variety of backgrounds in theatre (including producers, directors, actors, playwrights, designers, professors of theatre, entertainment lawyers and agents and theatre lovers), the Jeff Awards is committed to celebrating the vitality of Chicago area theatre by recognizing excellence through its recommendations, awards and honors. Opening night judges include not only Jeff members but also the team of Artistic and Technical theatre volunteers (the “A/T Team”) which is comprised of artistic directors, producers, directors from major Chicago theatres, actors and designers. The Jeff Awards fosters the artistic growth of area theatres and theatre artists and promotes educational opportunities, audience appreciation and civic pride in the achievements of the theatre community. Each year, the Jeff Awards judges 300 theatrical productions and host two awards ceremonies. Originally chartered to recognize only Equity productions, the Jeff Awards established the Non-Equity Wing in 1973 to celebrate outstanding achievement in non-union theatre.
2018 EQUITY JEFF AWARD NOMINEES
PRODUCTION – PLAY – LARGE
“All My Sons” – Court Theatre
“Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3)” – Goodman Theatre
“Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner” – Court Theatre
“Macbeth” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
“A View from the Bridge” – Goodman Theatre
PRODUCTION – PLAY – MIDSIZE
“The Cake” – Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
“Jitney” – Congo Square Theatre Company
“Machinal” – Greenhouse Theater Center in association with
North Central College
“Southern Gothic” – Windy City Playhouse
“Traitor” – A Red Orchid Theatre
PRODUCTION – MUSICAL OR REVUE – LARGE
“Cabaret” – Paramount Theatre
“Five Guys Named Moe” – Court Theatre
“Fun Home” – Victory Gardens Theater
“Million Dollar Quartet” – Paramount Theatre
“Ragtime” – Marriott Theatre
PRODUCTION – MUSICAL – MIDSIZE
“Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story” – American Blues Theater
“Hair” – Mercury Theater Chicago
“Memphis” – Porchlight Music Theatre
ENSEMBLE – PLAY
“Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3)” – Goodman Theatre
“Jitney” – Congo Square Theatre Company
“Machinal” – Greenhouse Theater Center in association with
North Central College
“Southern Gothic” – Windy City Playhouse
“Support Group For Men” – Goodman Theatre
“The Taming of the Shrew” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
“Traitor” – A Red Orchid Theatre
“The Wolves” – Goodman Theatre
ENSEMBLE – MUSICAL OR REVUE
“Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story” – American Blues Theater
“Five Guys Named Moe” – Court Theatre
“Forever Plaid” – Theatre At The Center
“Hair” – Mercury Theater Chicago
“Million Dollar Quartet” – Paramount Theatre
NEW WORK
Dan Collins and Julianne Wick Davis – “Trevor the Musical” – Writers Theatre
Ellen Fairey – “Support Group For Men” – Goodman Theatre
Minita Gandhi – “Muthaland” – 16th Street Theater
Keith Huff – “Six Corners” – American Blues Theater
Boo Killebrew – “Lettie” – Victory Gardens Theater
Aline Lathrop – “The Hero’s Wife” – 16th Street Theater
Leslie Liautaud, Carl Menninger, and Amy Rubenstein – “Southern Gothic”
– Windy City Playhouse
Novid Parsi – “Through The Elevated Line” – Silk Road Rising
NEW ADAPTATION
Jennifer Blackmer – “Alias Grace” – Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Robert Falls – “An Enemy Of The People” – Goodman Theatre
Barbara Gaines and Ron West – “The Taming of the Shrew”
– Chicago Shakespeare Theater
David Kersner and Althos Low – “20,000 Leagues Under The Seas”
– Lookingglass Theatre Company
Brett Neveu – “Traitor” – A Red Orchid Theatre
DIRECTOR – PLAY – LARGE
Dexter Bullard – “Mies Julie” – Victory Gardens Theater
Niegel Smith – “Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3)”
– Goodman Theatre
Vanessa Stalling – “The Wolves” – Goodman Theatre
Ivo Van Hove – “A View from the Bridge” – Goodman Theatre
Chay Yew – “Lettie” – Victory Gardens Theater
DIRECTOR – PLAY – MIDSIZE
David H. Bell – “Southern Gothic” – Windy City Playhouse
Cheryl Lynn Bruce – “Jitney” – Congo Square Theatre Company
Jacob Harvey – “Machinal” – Greenhouse Theater Center in association with
North Central College
Michael Shannon – “Traitor” – A Red Orchid Theatre
Lauren Shouse – “The Cake” – Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
DIRECTOR – MUSICAL OR REVUE – LARGE
Nick Bowling – “Ragtime” – Marriott Theatre
Marc Bruni – “Trevor the Musical” – Writers Theatre
Gary Griffin – “Fun Home” – Victory Gardens Theater
Michael Heitzman – “42nd Street” – Drury Lane Productions
Ron OJ Parson – “Five Guys Named Moe” – Court Theatre
DIRECTOR – MUSICAL – MIDSIZE
Daryl Brooks – “Memphis” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Lili-Anne Brown – “Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story” – American Blues Theater
Brenda Didier – “Hair” – Mercury Theater Chicago
PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – PLAY
Ian Bedford (Eddie) – “A View from the Bridge” – Goodman Theatre
Janet Ulrich Brooks (Queen Elizabeth II) – “The Audience”
– TimeLine Theatre Company
Heather Chrisler (Young Woman) – “Machinal” – Greenhouse Theater Center
in association with North Central College
Edward Gero (U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia) – “The Originalist”
– Court Theatre
John Judd (Joe Keller) – “All My Sons” – Court Theatre
Tara Mallen (Della) – “The Cake” – Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Caroline Neff (Lettie) – “Lettie” – Victory Gardens Theater
Geno Walker (Terry Kilbourn) – “To Catch A Fish” – TimeLine Theatre Company
Alex Weisman (Jordan) – “Significant Other” – Theater Wit and About Face Theatre
Larry Yando (Dodge) – “Buried Child” – Writers Theatre
PERFORMER IN A PRINCIPAL ROLE – MUSICAL
Dawn Bless (Patti) – “A New Attitude: In Tribute To Patti LaBelle”
– Black Ensemble Theater
Matt Crowle (Charley Kringas) – “Merrily We Roll Along” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Jason Grimm (The Suspects) – “Murder For Two” – Marriott Theatre
Rob Lindley (Bruce Bechdel) – “Fun Home” – Victory Gardens Theater
Liam Quealy (Huey Calhoun) – “Memphis” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Nathaniel Stampley (Coalhouse Walker, Jr.) – “Ragtime” – Marriott Theatre
Zachary Stevenson (Buddy Holly) – “Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story”
– American Blues Theater
Eli Tokash (Trevor) – “Trevor the Musical” – Writers Theatre
Tiffany Topol (Girl) – “Once” – Paramount Theatre
Kathy Voytko (Mother) – “Ragtime” – Marriott Theatre
SOLO PERFORMANCE
Janet Ulrich Brooks (Eppie Lederer aka Ann Landers) – “The Lady With All The Answers”
– Theatre At The Center
Kate Fry (Emily Dickinson) – “The Belle of Amherst” – Court Theatre
Minita Gandhi (Solo Performer) – “Muthaland” – 16th Street Theater
Stacy Keach (Ernest Hemingway) – “Pamplona” – Goodman Theatre
James Leaming (Solo Performer) – “This Wonderful Life” – American Blues Theater
PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – PLAY
Sydney Charles (Matilda “Tillie” Binks) – “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner”
– Court Theatre
Shannon Cochran (Lady Bracknell) – “The Importance of Being Earnest”
– Writers Theatre
Matt DeCaro (Winston Churchill/Harold Wilson/Tony Blair/Archbishop)
– “The Audience” – TimeLine Theatre Company
Matt DeCaro (Big Daddy) – “Cat On A Hot Tin Roof” – Drury Lane Productions
Deanna Dunagan (Nancy Reagan, First Lady of the United States) – “Blind Date”
– Goodman Theatre
Jason Grimm (Various Roles) – “Bunny Bunny: Gilda Radner, A Sort of Love Story”
– Mercury Theater Chicago
Anthony Irons (Steve) – “How To Use A Knife” – Shattered Globe Theatre
Anthony Irons (Turnbo) – “Jitney” – Congo Square Theatre Company
Keith Kupferer (Flynt) – “Cal in Camo” – Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
Andrus Nichols (Beatrice) – “A View from the Bridge” – Goodman Theatre
PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL
Jenna Coker-Jones (Amy) – “Company” – Mercury Theater Chicago
Matt Crowle (Luther Billis) – “South Pacific” – Drury Lane Productions
Shanésia Davis (Mrs. Wilkinson) – “Billy Elliot the Musical” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Sean Fortunato (Dad) – “Billy Elliot the Musical” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Veronica Garza (Roz) – “9 To 5: The Musical” – Firebrand Theatre
Hollis Resnik (Fraulein Schneider) – “Cabaret” – Paramount Theatre
Gavin Rohrer (Jerry Lee Lewis) – “Million Dollar Quartet” – Paramount Theatre
Hannah Starr (Medium Alison) – “Fun Home” – Victory Gardens Theater
Katherine Thomas (Sarah) – “Ragtime” – Marriott Theatre
Aaron Umsted (Will Parker) – “Oklahoma!” – Marriott Theatre
PERFORMER IN A REVUE
Yando Lopez (Jinx) – “Forever Plaid” – Theatre At The Center
Lorenzo Rush, Jr. (Big Moe) – “Five Guys Named Moe” – Court Theatre
Jasbir Singh Vazquez (Ensemble) – “Gaslight District” – The Second City e.t.c.
SCENIC DESIGN – LARGE
Scott Davis – “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner” – Court Theatre
Kevin Depinet – “The Taming of the Shrew” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Courtney O’Neill – “Plantation!” – Lookingglass Theatre Company
Todd Rosenthal – “20,000 Leagues Under The Seas” – Lookingglass Theatre Company
Todd Rosenthal – “The Doppelgänger” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
SCENIC DESIGN – MIDSIZE
Jeff Bauer – “How To Use A Knife” – Shattered Globe Theatre
Scott Davis – “Southern Gothic” – Windy City Playhouse
José Manuel Díaz-Soto – “The Explorers Club” – Citadel Theatre
Angela Weber Miller – “Mary’s Wedding” – First Folio Theatre
Arnel Sancianco – “The Cake” – Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
COSTUME DESIGN – LARGE
Mara Blumenfeld – “The Importance of Being Earnest” – Writers Theatre
Linda Cho – “Schiller’s Mary Stuart” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Theresa Ham – “Ragtime” – Marriott Theatre
Susan E. Mickey – “The Taming of the Shrew” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Alison Siple – “In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play” – TimeLine Theatre Company
COSTUME DESIGN – MIDSIZE
Paul Kim – “The Explorers Club” – Citadel Theatre
Robert Kuhn – “Hair” – Mercury Theater Chicago
Emily McConnell – “Hatfield & McCoy” – The House Theatre of Chicago
Bill Morey – “Memphis” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Bill Morey – “Merrily We Roll Along” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Mieka van der Ploeg – “The Skin of Our Teeth” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
SOUND DESIGN – LARGE
Robert E. Gilmartin – “Murder For Two” – Marriott Theatre
Ray Nardelli – “Skeleton Crew” – Northlight Theatre
André Pluess – “Hard Times” – Lookingglass Theatre Company
André Pluess – “Macbeth” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Rick Sims – “20,000 Leagues Under The Seas” – Lookingglass Theatre Company
SOUND DESIGN – MIDSIZE
Christopher Kriz – “The 39 Steps” – Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
Christopher Kriz – “The Heavens Are Hung in Black” – Shattered Globe Theatre
Christopher Kriz – “Mary’s Wedding” – First Folio Theatre
Jeffrey Levin – “Machinal” – Greenhouse Theater Center in association with
North Central College
Jeffrey Levin – “Welcome to Jesus” – American Theater Company
Stephen Ptacek – “The Skin of Our Teeth” – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
LIGHTING DESIGN – LARGE
Brian Sidney Bembridge – “Hard Times” – Lookingglass Theatre Company
Christine Binder – “20,000 Leagues Under The Seas” – Lookingglass Theatre Company
Jesse Klug – “Million Dollar Quartet” – Paramount Theatre
Yael Lubetzky – “Cabaret” – Paramount Theatre
Thom Weaver – “Macbeth” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
LIGHTING DESIGN – MIDSIZE
Nick Belley – “Hair” – Mercury Theater Chicago
Cat Davis – “De Troya” – Halcyon Theatre
Denise Karczewski – “Billy Elliot the Musical” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Lee Keenan – “Hatfield & McCoy” – The House Theatre of Chicago
Rachel Levy – “Welcome to Jesus” – American Theater Company
Eric Watkins – “Machinal” – Greenhouse Theater Center in association with
North Central College
Cat Wilson – “The Wolf at the End of the Block” – 16th Street Theater
CHOREOGRAPHY
Christopher Carter – “Memphis” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Jared Grimes – “42nd Street” – Drury Lane Productions
Josh Prince – “Trevor the Musical” – Writers Theatre
Alex Sanchez – “Newsies” – Marriott Theatre
Alex Sanchez – “Oklahoma!” – Marriott Theatre
ORIGINAL MUSIC IN A PLAY
Justin Ellington – “Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3)”
– Goodman Theatre
Christopher Kriz – “Mary’s Wedding” – First Folio Theatre
Shawn Pfautsch and Matt Kahler – “Hatfield & McCoy”
– The House Theatre of Chicago
André Pluess – “Hard Times” – Lookingglass Theatre Company
André Pluess – “Macbeth” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
MUSIC DIRECTION
Jermaine Hill – “Memphis” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Michael Mahler – “Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story” – American Blues Theater
Doug Peck – “Fun Home” – Victory Gardens Theater
Abdul Hamid Royal – “Five Guys Named Moe” – Court Theatre
Tom Vendafreddo – “Once” – Paramount Theatre
PROJECTION DESIGN
Joseph A. Burke – “Elf the Musical” – Paramount Theatre
Joseph A. Burke – “Women Laughing Alone With Salad” – Theater Wit
Anthony Churchill – “Merrily We Roll Along” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Stephan Mazurek – “Lettie” – Victory Gardens Theater
Mark “Trace” Umstattd – “De Troya” – Halcyon Theatre
ARTISTIC SPECIALIZATION
Christopher Carter – Movement/Musical Staging – “Five Guys Named Moe”
– Court Theatre
Matt Hawkins – Fight Choreography – “Macbeth” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Eleanor Kahn – Properties Design – “Southern Gothic” – Windy City Playhouse
Elizabeth Margolius – Movement Direction – “Machinal” – Greenhouse Theater Center
in association with North Central College
MULTIPLE NOMINATIONS
BY THEATRE COMPANY
| Goodman Theatre Court Theatre Porchlight Music Theatre Marriott Theatre Chicago Shakespeare Theater Paramount Theatre Victory Gardens Theater Lookingglass Theatre Company American Blues Theater Greenhouse Theater Center in association with North Central College Mercury Theater Chicago |
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BY PRODUCTION
| “Machinal” “Five Guys Named Moe” “Memphis” “Ragtime” “Southern Gothic” “Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story” “Fun Home” “Hair” “Macbeth” “20,000 Leagues Under The Seas” “The Cake” “Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3)” “Jitney” “Lettie” “Million Dollar Quartet” “The Taming of the Shrew” “Traitor” “Trevor the Musical” “A View from the Bridge” “Billy Elliot the Musical” “Cabaret” “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner” “Hard Times” “Hatfield & McCoy” “Mary’s Wedding” “Merrily We Roll Along” “42nd Street” “All My Sons” “The Audience” “De Troya” “The Explorers Club” “Forever Plaid” “How to Use A Knife” “The Importance of Being Earnest” “Murder For Two” “Muthaland” “Oklahoma!” “Once” “The Skin of Our Teeth” “Support Group For Men” “Welcome to Jesus” “The Wolves” |
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BY INDIVIDUAL
| Christopher Kriz André Pluess Janet Ulrich Brooks Joseph A. Burke Christopher Carter Matt Crowle Scott Davis Matt DeCaro Minita Gandhi Jason Grimm Anthony Irons Jeffrey Levin Bill Morey Todd Rosenthal Alex Sanchez |
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